3. Rapid fluttering or pounding chest palpitations
Palpitations can make a person feel as though their heart is beating either too quickly, or too hard. The sensation can feel like a fluttering or as though the heart is skipping a beat. The feeling may be registered by a person in their chest, throat or neck, depending on the individual, and although they can be a bothersome symptom of rheumatic fever, they are not usually a cause for great concern, nor are they particularly harmful.
Thankfully, they often go away on their own. Whilst rheumatic fever can without question cause palpitations, it is true that there are plenty of other contributing factors which may be to blame instead. Feeling stressed or anxious can bring them on. The consumption of too much alcohol or caffeine could also be responsible for palpitations. Pregnant women experience a fluttering sensation every now and then and only if the palpitations are accompanied by things like shortness of breath, dizzy spells and chest pain should someone seek emergency advice.